Primrose Moth

Schinia florida

On knapweed on the BLT Rails to Trail,
between Cranberry Lake & trailhead for The Bluff Trail,
July 8, 2013.

There were primroses nearby, just beginning to flower.

(Photos by David Patriquin)

primrose moth

primrose moth

primrose moth

Some follow-up (July 14, 2013)

I made a posting about the moth on the NatureNS list-serv:
Beautiful primrose moth sighted today on knapweed on BLT Rails to Trail near Cranberry Lake. Photos at

http://versicolor.ca/primrosemoth

Apparently common and known for NS (Beadle & Leckie Peterson Field Guide to Moths)
Some interesting comments followed:

From Jim E.
...notice the clear bubbles on the thorax. Several brightly colored species of tiger moths exude bubbles of noxious chemicals through their thorax to prevent predation. I've never noticed Primrose Moth doing this but wonder if perhaps they do the same thing.
& from Jim in Wolfville:
...for people who don't know this moth, it is well known here in the Valley, and usually found inside the flowers of evening primroses. So take a peek in any evening primroses now on your walks on rail trails and elsewhere.
There was one posting wondering whether it could have been a Rosy Maple moth. These comments followed:
The two species aren't even closely related (except for the fact that they are both moths). The flower visiting Primrose moth (Schinia florida) is a Noctuid (Owlet) Moth, subfamily Heliothinae. Its closest relative here is the Corn Earworm Moth. Its coloration evolved for camouflage in a Primrose flower.

The Rosy Maple (Dryocampa rubicunda) on the other hand is one of only 6 Giant Silk Moths or Saturnid (subfamily Ceratocampinae) found in NS. Its closest relatives here are the large Cecropias, Lunas etc. and the smaller Pink Striped Oakworm Moth. Its coloration is meant to blend in on the underside of maple leaves among the maple seeds. It doesn't visit flowers because like all Silk Moths it lacks mouth parts..jim
and from Bev W.:
Jim.. has provided information on the differences between the two moths. I would just add that, while the Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) often come to a porch lamp (or moth lamp and sheet) in numbers at night, I have never had an Evening Primrose Moth (Shinia florida) come to lights. If you wish to see one, check the flowers of Evening Primrose during the day and you will often find a moth with its head pushed into the center or the partially closed flower. Here are a couple of photos to illustrate what I mean.
http://magickcanoe.com/2012/summer/prim-moth-july2012-1-large.jpg

http://magickcanoe.com/2012/summer/prim-moth-july2012-2-large.jpg
Beautiful pics indeed at magickcanoe.com!

Bryan Pfeiffer offers some really nice pics and comments about primrose moth.